Understanding Why Christ's Spiritual Army is All-Volunteer

Before doing this Bible study, please read the 1-minute introduction: Why Christ's Spiritual Army is All-Volunteer. It explains that when we follow Christ, we voluntarily enlist in His "spiritual army." We know our enemy and we understand our mission. We accept the sacrifices involved, denying ourselves for our "Commander."

1. When do you find it hardest to deny yourself?

Luke 9:23-26: Then he said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? 26 Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels."

When we focus on the fact that we're serving Christ, it makes the hardships easier. My husband and I used to do Christian work in Budapest, Hungary. Our life in Budapest wasn't hard, but it was harder than life in the US—no car, no family nearby, a language barrier, a different culture, etc. But knowing we were serving Christ made the hardships seem small.

I encourage you to identify and pray about any areas where you are halfhearted in your faith. 

2. What do the words "living sacrifice" mean to you?

Romans 12:1-2: "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

In the Old Testament, God's people offered animal sacrifices to God by killing them on the altar. These sacrifices were a foreshadowing of Christ's final sacrifice for our sins. When we come to the Lord, we realize that He gave His life for us, and we want to give our lives for Him. We become "living sacrifices"—willing volunteers in His spiritual army.  

3. What "civilian affairs" distract you from devotion to Christ?

2 Timothy 2:3-4: "Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer."

Most of us let worry and selfishness distract us. Let's fight those distractions and fully engage in the battle!

Copyright 2014, Gail Burton Purath, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com, edited and updated in 2022.

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